UNL CropWatch

Will May bring any relief to Nebraska’s drought? The latest outlook shows a dry start to the month, with little to no precipitation expected in the next two weeks. Nebraska Extension Meteorologist Eric Hunt breaks down what that means for planting, forage and water supplies — and whether a shift to wetter conditions later this month or into summer is still on the table.

In this special March webinar on drought expansion, Nebraska Extension Meteorologist Eric Hunt outlines growing concerns for the 2026 season, driven by record warmth, extremely dry conditions, and very low snowpack in the North Platte Basin.

2026 Central Nebraska Soil Health Conference presentation

2026 Central Nebraska Soil Health Conference presentation

2026 Southeast Nebraska Soil Health Conference presentation

2026 Southeast Nebraska Soil Health Conference presentation

2026 Southeast Nebraska Soil Health Conference presentation

After one of Nebraska’s warmest winters on record, drought has rapidly expanded across the state. In the March Second Tuesday at 9, Nebraska Extension meteorologist Eric Hunt explains what drove this winter’s weather pattern, the outlook for spring precipitation and what it could mean for soil moisture, irrigation supplies and the upcoming growing season.

Module 3 of the Regenerative Agriculture Learning Hub's webinar series features Jared Jacobs, carbon program manager, Jenny Kramm, partnership director at environmental initiative, Midwest Row Crop Collaborative, and Keith Koch, regenerative agriculture origination manager, ADM, who discuss a variety of programs that support producers interested in implementing regenerative practices in their operation.

Module 2 in the Regenerative Agriculture Learning Hub's webinar series features Nebraska farmers Junior Pfanstiel, McLean, Nebraska, Doug Garrison, Malcolm, Nebraska, and Angela Knuth, Mead, Nebraska, who discuss the regenerative agriculture practices they have implemented in their operations.

Module 1 in the Regenerative Agriculture Learning Hub's webinar series features Jennifer Swanson, director of water quality initiatives with the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts, Nick Arneson, row crop ag projects lead for The Nature Conservancy in Nebraska, and Corey Brubaker, state conservation agronomist, Nebraska NRCS, who discuss ongoing regenerative agriculture initiatives for producers in the state.

A mostly mild winter may be masking some real concerns for Nebraska producers, as moisture deficits continue to build and drought expands across much of the state. In the February Second Tuesday at 9, Nebraska Extension Ag Meteorologist Eric Hunt and State Climatologist Deborah Bathke break down what low snowpack, dry soils and shifting climate patterns could mean for spring planting, irrigation demand and wildfire risk — and what to watch for in the weeks ahead.

Nebraska Extension Educator Steve Melvin demonstrates how to apply the irrigation scheduling method outlined in "Irrigation Scheduling Strategies When Using Soil Water Data" (Nebraska Extension NebGuide EC3036). (Video No. 8 of series)

In this installment of the Soil Health Stories series, Nebraska farmer Hank McGowan shares how integrating livestock, cover crops and biology-focused management transformed his ground, improved livestock performance, boosted soil test scores and reshaped his understanding of resilience and profitability. Hear how curiosity, community support and Nebraska Extension’s local soil health network helped him shift from struggle to stewardship — and why he now sees soil biology as the most future-ready risk management tool on his farm.

In this month's weather outlook, Eric Hunt discusses the current state of agricultural meteorology and climate resilience, focusing on recent weather patterns, precipitation deficits, and the implications of La Niña on future weather conditions. He provides insights into drought conditions, snowpack levels, and seasonal weather predictions for the upcoming months, emphasizing the importance of these factors for agricultural planning and crop management.

In this installment of the Soil Health Stories series, Nebraska farmers Paula and Tom Peterson join UNL Professor Caro Córdova to share how no-till practices, crop rotation, terracing, and precision soil sampling have helped them build a resilient farm and lasting family legacy.

Nebraska Extension Educator Steve Melvin demonstrates how to apply the irrigation scheduling method outlined in "Irrigation Scheduling Strategies When Using Soil Water Data" (Nebraska Extension NebGuide EC3036). (Video No. 7 of series)

In the new series, Soil Health Stories, Nebraska farmer Brian Brhel discusses his approach to soil stewardship with experts from the UNL Soil Health Program.

Nebraska Extension Educator Steve Melvin demonstrates how to apply the irrigation scheduling method outlined in "Irrigation Scheduling Strategies When Using Soil Water Data" (Nebraska Extension NebGuide EC3036). (Video No. 6 of series)

Nebraska Extension Educator Steve Melvin demonstrates how to apply the irrigation scheduling method outlined in "Irrigation Scheduling Strategies When Using Soil Water Data" (Nebraska Extension NebGuide EC3036). (Video No. 5 of series)

Nebraska Extension Educator Steve Melvin demonstrates how to apply the irrigation scheduling method outlined in "Irrigation Scheduling Strategies When Using Soil Water Data" (Nebraska Extension NebGuide EC3036). (Video No. 4 of series)

Nebraska Extension Meteorologist Eric Hunt shares an update on the weather as we approach the end of summer, including impacts on 2025 yield estimates, drought improvement, vegetative health, and how this fall may be reminiscent of 2010.

Nebraska Extension Educator Steve Melvin demonstrates how to apply the irrigation scheduling method outlined in "Irrigation Scheduling Strategies When Using Soil Water Data" (Nebraska Extension NebGuide EC3036). (Video No. 3 of series)

Nebraska Extension Educator Steve Melvin demonstrates how to apply the irrigation scheduling method outlined in "Irrigation Scheduling Strategies When Using Soil Water Data" (Nebraska Extension NebGuide EC3036). (Video No. 2 of series)

Nebraska Extension Educator Steve Melvin demonstrates how to apply the irrigation scheduling method outlined in Nebraska Extension NebGuide EC3036, Irrigation Scheduling Strategies When Using Soil Water Data, in a corn field at the South Central Agricultural Lab near Clay Center, Nebraska. This is the first video in a new series on irrigation scheduling featured in the CropWatch Weekly Irrigation Newsletter.

In the June 2025 Second Tuesday at 9, Nebraska Extension Meteorologist Eric Hunt discusses how variable rainfall has impacted crop and pasture health in Nebraska, emergence of wheat streak mosaic virus, and ongoing challenges from delayed planting in the eastern Corn Belt. Hunt also examines short-term moisture outlooks, long range summer forecasts, and historical climate patterns that may indicate how July and August will play out.